As part of the Club's celebrations to mark a century since joining the VFL/AFL, an expert panel has been convened to select the 25 Greatest Bulldogs of the past 100 years.
The Greatest Bulldogs are those who have represented the red, white and blue with irrefutable distinction on the field and made the most considerable positive impact on the Club's history.
Players of exceptional ability who have achieved some of the game's greatest accolades, they have also made the Club what it is today, setting standards that will always be aspired to, embodying the Bulldogs' spirit and inspiring fans to dream big and stand proud.
The list of 25 is unranked but a Top 5 has been selected in order and will be revealed at the Club’s Centenary Gala on Monday 21 July, answering the perennial question of who really is the greatest Bulldog of all time.
Tickets to the event at Mission Whitten Oval's Western Grounds are now sold out, but the event will be available to be live-streamed on the Club website and app on Monday night.
All 25 selected players will be immortalised in a Jamie Cooper painting that will be unveiled at the Charles Sutton Medal awards night on 1 October.
Today we reveal the selected players who debuted in the red, white and blue between 1986 and 1999.
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Scott Wynd
Years played: 1988–2000
Games: 237 (10 finals)
Goals: 31
Best & Fairest: 1992; Top 4: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996
All Australian: 1992
Brownlow Medal: 1992
Brownlow Votes: 91
Club Awards: Most Determined (1989), Most Consistent (1997, 1998), Best Clubman (1993)
Bulldogs Team of the Century: Interchange
Amid the Club’s most respected figures, Scott Wynd produced a legacy as one of the Western Bulldogs’ greatest ruckmen, blending strength, skill and leadership throughout 13 seasons. Debuting in 1988, he quickly became the Dogs’ first-choice ruck and stood as a dominant force throughout the 1990s.
Wynd’s brilliance shone brightest in 1992, a landmark year when he claimed the Brownlow Medal, Charles Sutton Medal and All Australian honours — all at just 22 years old.
That defining season ignited a new chapter for the Club, as Wynd’s leadership propelled a young Bulldogs side into finals contention and sparked a powerful belief that rippled throughout the entire playing group.
Appointed captain in 1994, he led with humility and resilience until his retirement in 2000, becoming the second-longest serving skipper in Club history. His leadership helped shape a generation of Bulldogs players.
A three-time Victorian representative and a revered member of the Bulldogs Team of the Century, Wynd’s 2012 induction into the Club’s Hall of Fame immortalised a career that stands as the gold standard for ruck excellence and unyielding loyalty to the red, white and blue.
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Chris Grant
Years played: 1990-2007
Games: 341 (15 finals)
Goals: 554
Best & Fairest: 1994, 1996 (joint); Runner-up: 1997, 1998, 1999; Third place: 2001
All Australian: 1997, 1998, 1999
State games: 5
Brownlow votes: 112
Captain: 2001-04
Leading Club Goalkicker: 1990, 1994
Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee: 2012
Bulldogs Team of the Century: Half forward
Chris Grant forged an incredible career after arriving via the Club's (barely believable) pick number 105 in the 1988 VFL Draft.
Grant was a star with the Bulldogs from his debut as a skinny 17-year-old kid in 1990, eventually becoming the youngest player in league history to kick 50 goals in a season.
As his body developed he moved out to centre-half-forward and by 1994 he was in peak form winning the Best & Fairest and leading the Club goal-kicking with 74 majors. Grant showed his versatility when he moved to centre half-back in 1996 and fell just one vote short of winning the Brownlow Medal. The following year he polled the most Brownlow votes but had been ruled ineligible after a controversial one-match suspension.
He played a then Club record 341 games after overcoming a knee injury that saw him miss all but one game of the 2003 season; he kicked 554 goals in 18 seasons between 1990-2007; captained the Club between 2001-04 and polled 112 Brownlow votes, the same as Club legend and fellow No 3, Ted Whitten.
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Scott West
Years played: 1993-2008
Games: 324 (12 finals)
Goals: 104
Best & Fairest: 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005
All-Australian: 1998, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006
State Games: 1
Brownlow votes: 175
Brownlow Top 10 finishes: 1998, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006
Bulldogs Team of the Century: Follower
Scott West stands as one of the Bulldogs’ most revered midfielders, celebrated for his tireless work ethic, elite endurance, and exceptional ability to win the ball in tight spaces.
Across 16 seasons and 324 games, West was the heartbeat of the Bulldogs’ midfield and one of the AFL’s most prolific ball winners. His toughness, clean hands, and ability to dominate stoppages consistently opened opportunities for his teammates.
West was pivotal in the Bulldogs’ finals appearances across 1994-95, 1997-2000, and 2006, driving success through sheer determination. His consistency was extraordinary — winning a club-record seven Charles Sutton Medals, earning five All-Australian selections, and polling Brownlow votes in 14 seasons.
Despite twice finishing runner-up in the Brownlow Medal, his legacy of sustained brilliance was firmly cemented. West’s influence lives on, honoured through his induction into the Bulldogs Hall of Fame, the Australian Football Hall of Fame, and the Bulldogs’ Team of the Century.
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Brad Johnson
Years played: 1994-2010
Games: 364 (21 finals)
Goals: 558
Best & Fairest: 1999, 2002, 2006; Runner-up: 2003, 2007; Third place: 2000, 2004
State games: 3
All-Australian: 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007
Brownlow votes: 79
Leading Club Goalkicker: 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Captain: 2006-10
Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee: 2014
Bulldogs Team of the Century: Interchange
With his infectious smile and boyish enthusiasm, Brad Johnson was an immensely popular player and captain at Whitten Oval, becoming the Club's games record holder in a brilliant career.
He progressed from a wingman/midfielder to forward-line match winner. His overhead marking and speed off the mark proved a handful for the very best defenders, while his goalkicking exploits saw him kick the second most career goals of any Bulldog.
Drafted from the Western Jets, Johnson was a six-time All-Australian (once as captain); triple best and fairest winner; Victorian representative in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and played in more finals than any other Bulldog player.
When only halfway through his career, he was chosen on the interchange bench in the Bulldogs’ Team of the Century. Stylish and clever, ‘Johnno’ had it all – class, consistency, fierce determination, resilience, versatility and courage in abundance.
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Tony Liberatore
Years played: 1986–2002
Games: 283 (13 finals)
Goals: 95
Best & Fairest: 1991; Runner-up: 1992, 1993, 1995
Brownlow Medal: 1990
Brownlow votes: 112
Club Awards: Best Team Man (2001), Most Determined (1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000)
Bulldogs Team of the Century: Interchange
Tony Liberatore stands as one of the Bulldogs’ most courageous and determined figures. Arriving at the Club in 1986 after a stint with North Melbourne he quickly made his mark, winning the Gardiner Medal as the VFL reserves best and fairest. Despite early setbacks and limited senior opportunities, he refused to be deterred — claiming a second Gardiner Medal in 1988 and continuing to push for a senior spot.
His breakthrough came in 1990 under coach Terry Wheeler. Given a full-season opportunity, Liberatore averaged 26 disposals across 19 games before a knee injury ended his year. His incredible impact was rewarded with the Brownlow Medal — a stunning recognition of his relentless effort and commitment.
From that moment on, Liberatore became a fixture in the Bulldogs midfield. Renowned for his tackling pressure and ball-winning ability, he adapted his game over time, evolving into one of the league’s best taggers. Across a 283-game career, he kicked 95 goals and built a reputation as one of the game’s fiercest competitors.
Liberatore’s loyalty, intensity and love for the contest made him a fan favourite and a respected figure across the league — a true embodiment of the grit and spirit that defines the Western Bulldogs.
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25 Greatest Bulldogs (full list)
1925-45: Norm Ware, Harry Hickey, Arthur Olliver, Charlie Sutton, Allan Hopkins, Alby Morrison
1946-65: John Schultz, EJ Whitten, Wally Donald, Jack Collins
1966-85: Gary Dempsey, Doug Hawkins, Kelvin Templeton, Simon Beasley
1986-99: Scott Wynd, Chris Grant, Scott West, Brad Johnson, Tony Liberatore
2000-25: Bob Murphy, Matthew Boyd, Dale Morris, Tom Liberatore, Marcus Bontempelli, Ellie Blackburn
